Impurity (DI Gardener 1)

Reilly drove the car through the double gates to Gardener’s house, onto the red brick drive. He parked the car and switched off the engine before jumping out.

Gardener glanced at his partner. “You’re a deep thinker for an Irishman.”

“I’ll be taking that as a compliment, shall I?”

“Naturally,” said Gardener.

“You’re all heart, Yorkshireman.” Reilly slapped Gardener on the back. “To be sure, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You need me to keep your feet on the ground. By now you’d have killed Summers and moved on to the next case.”

Reilly erupted with laughter. “I think it’s time I moved on to the next partner.”

Gardener checked around the house. No one was home. “I need a change of clothes, then we’ll go and see Fitz. Help yourself to coffee. And can you do me a favour? Ring and find out where Summers is.”

Chapter Fifty-nine

Gardener showered and donned fresh clothing within twenty minutes. He selected a new pale blue shirt he’d bought at the sales at the weekend, with a pair of black corduroy trousers. Back in the kitchen, he hung his leather jacket over a chair. His hat was on the table where he’d left it.

“Any luck with Summers?” Gardener asked, filling a glass of water from the tap. He put his glass down and picked up Spook, who was circling round his legs. “Hello, Spooky, what are you doing inside?” He put the cat back on the floor and poured a saucer of milk.

“No,” said Reilly. “At least if he’d been in all morning, he would have had an alibi.”

“We’d only have the butler’s word for it.”

“He’ll be down in the cellar, concocting more of his potions. You know, while I’ve been sitting here on my own, I’ve been thinking...”

“I thought I could smell burning.”

Reilly grinned. “I hope that transfer request comes through. No, seriously. It’s an awfully big house for one person and a butler, don’t you think? I had the impression yesterday that I didn’t see all of it.”

“False panels and secret rooms?”

“It wouldn’t surprise me.”

“It’s strange you should say that. On Saturday, in the study, I could smell perfume. And it was stronger by the door in the corner. The library. Is there any way out through there?”

Reilly shrugged his shoulders. “None that I could see.”

Gardener sipped his water, thinking about it. He flipped his mobile, called the station. Colin Sharp wasn’t there. Briggs had requested that Gardener be put through to him if he called. Gardener hung up before the conversation went any further. He tried Sharp’s mobile but gained no answer. “Try Summers again.”

Reilly did, but there was still no answer.

Gardener finished his drink, placed his empty glass in the sink. “Let me show you something before we go.”

Gardener took Reilly into the garage. He switched on the lights. Reilly whistled through his teeth when he saw the Bonneville. Although not fully dismantled, there was little left to strip from the chassis. Gardener caught the smell of oil, and the paraffin he’d been using to clean the smaller parts with.

“So, this is what Sarah bought you?”

Gardener nodded. “Nice, isn’t it?”

“She’s a beauty. I never took you for a biker.”

“I was, in my younger days. Could never afford one of these. Then when I could, Sarah and Chris came along, and it seemed more practical to get a car. Couldn’t afford both, so the dream had to go.”

“What are you going to do with it?”

“I’m not sure.”